Riverbanks Zoo
The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a 170-acre (69 ha) zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located along the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Its history begins in 1974. Top of the list nearby is Williams-Brice Stadium, 4.1 mi away.
A zoo & aquarium inside Columbia
Summers are hot
July and August highs run 90–92°, and about 73 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Columbia
Riverbanks Zoo is inside Columbia, which has 86 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Charlotte
Charlotte is about 84 miles north (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct and Nov
March, April, May, October and November are the mild months, with highs of 66–83°. When to go ↓
An airport 6 miles away
Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) has airline service, about 6 miles from Riverbanks Zoo.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The climate here
This is the year’s weather near Riverbanks Zoo.
Riverbanks Zoo
The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a 170-acre (69 ha) zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located along the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. A small portion of the zoo extends into the nearby city of West Columbia. It is operated by the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District, a partnership of the city of Columbia and Richland and Lexington counties. It is overseen by the Riverbanks Park Commission, comprising two members each from the three governments and one at-large member.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 2 animals
- Area
- 170 acres
- Owner
- Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District
- Established
- 1974
- Wikipedia readers
- 4K a year
Where to sleep near Riverbanks Zoo
For a bed close by, look to Columbia (86) and West Columbia (15).
- 1Williams-Brice Stadium
- 2Alcohol and Drug Abuse Lake
- 3Congaree
- 4Lake Murray
- 5Colonial Life Arena
- 6Columbia Museum of Art
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Riverbanks Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | in town | — | 86 73 hotels · 5 motels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 147,035 | $264K | D |
| West Columbia | 2 mi southwest | 5 min | 15 10 hotels · 4 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 18,489 | $202K | D− |
| Dentsville | 8 mi northeast | 10 min | 24 20 hotels · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 15,209 | $164K | — |
| Seven Oaks | 5 mi northwest | 5 min | 14 13 hotels · 1 motel | 15,921 | $208K | — |
| Cayce | 5 mi southeast | 5 min | 11 8 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins | 13,680 | $167K | D |
| Lexington | 9 mi west | 15 min | 13 12 hotels · 1 campground | 25,729 | $298K | B |
| St. Andrews | 3 mi northwest | 5 min | 8 4 hotels · 2 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs | 19,868 | $161K | — |
| Springdale | 4 mi southwest | 5 min | 7 4 hotels · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 2,877 | $222K | D |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Close to Riverbanks Zoo
All of these are within 64 miles.
14 mi Stadium & arenaWilliams-Brice Stadium28 mi LakeAlcohol and Drug Abuse Lake
323 mi National ParkCongaree National Park288K visitors a year
415 mi LakeLake Murray
52 mi Stadium & arenaColonial Life Arena
61 mi LakeLake Marion
62 mi MuseumColumbia Museum of Art
63 mi Stadium & arenaJames Brown ArenaPhoto credits
Williams-Brice Stadium: SRA MARVIN PRESTON, Public domain · Congaree National Park: Unknown, Public domain · Lake Murray: Greygh0st at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Colonial Life Arena: Dfscgt21, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Marion: http://www.terraprints.com, CC BY 2.5 · Columbia Museum of Art: Akhenaton06, CC BY-SA 3.0 · James Brown Arena: Thomson200, CC0
Asked about Riverbanks Zoo
Is Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia?
Yes. It’s inside Columbia, SC.
When is the best time to visit Riverbanks Zoo?
March, April, May, October and November, with highs of 66–83°.
How far is Riverbanks Zoo from Charlotte?
About 84 miles north of Charlotte, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Riverbanks Zoo?
Columbia Metropolitan (CAE), about 6 miles away. The nearest big hub is Charlotte Douglas (CLT), about 84 miles.
Where should I stay near Riverbanks Zoo?
Columbia (in town, 86 places to stay), West Columbia (2 mi, 15 places to stay) and Dentsville (8 mi, 24 places to stay).
From people who live in Columbia
Nobody has posted a tip yet; ask or answer in Columbia’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.